Free Will Service

“My name is Sianne and I am a Legacy Fundraising Manager at Cancer Research UK and I look after the Free Will Service.

The Free Will Service is a scheme which we have set up with Solicitors throughout the UK. We partner with these firms so that anyone who wants to write or update their Will can do so for free.

Legacy gifts are absolutely vital in the fight against Cancer, they fund about a third of our research. The Free Will Service is really easy to use, about 100 people a week use the Free Will Service to write or update their Will with us.”

“Most people who use the Free Will Service do leave us a gift but there is no obligation to do so.”

“A simple Will is usually a Will where there is no inheritance tax involved and it also might be where there aren’t any complex issues but it is actually best to talk to your solicitor about this to find out what a Simple Will might be. If your Will is not simple then your Solicitor can advise you and you might have to pay an additional cost in order to have your Will written.”

“Your next steps would be to enter your postcode online, you’ll find a participating Free Will Service Solicitor and then you can download one of our Free Will Service forms, take that with you to the Solicitor, write your Will and Cancer Research UK will cover the cost.

If you have any questions about the Free Will Service, you can just call the number below (0300 123 7733) and speak to anyone in my team and we would be more than happy to help you. Without the support of people like you, we simply would not have made the progress that we have already made today, so thank you.

We’ve partnered with solicitors nationwide to provide a Will-writing service that is free for people over 55 who want to write or update a simple Will.

We can also offer guidance and information about leaving a legacy gift to Cancer Research UK.

If you would like your gift to be spent in a specific way, perhaps towards research into a specific cancer type or in your local area, please ask your solicitor to contact our Free Will Service Team who would be happy to help. Together we can create a future where people won’t fear cancer the way we do today.

How to use the Free Will Service - 3 steps

Start thinking about what you have – your estate and assets – and who you’d like to be your executor

Fill out the form below and take it along to your appointment. The solicitor will then prepare everything for you and once your Will is finished and signed, they will invoice Cancer Research UK up to a fixed fee.

Find out how you can leave a gift in your Will with our free information pack

There is no obligation for you to leave a gift in your Will when using the Free Will Service but we’d be very grateful if you’d consider it by requesting our free information pack. In the booklet you will find useful tips on writing a Will and leaving a gift to Cancer research UK including:

Meet Barbara

I’m a breast cancer survivor. I used my local solicitors through the Free Will Service and pledged a gift to Cancer Research UK. I survived because of the treatment which research made happen. My nine year old great niece is surviving now because of research.

Barbara McArthur, legacy supporter of Cancer Research UK

Your questions answered

Q. Why does Cancer Research UK offer a Free Will Service?

We offer our Free Will Service to help make it easier for you to write or update your Will. Many people who use our service also choose to support us by including a gift in their Will to Cancer Research UK.

Q. Can I use the Free Will Service?

Anyone aged 55 and over can use the service. If you are writing a mirror Will with your partner, just one of you needs to be aged over 55.

Q. Is any Will free?

Most simple Wills are free using our Free Will Service. But, as a charity, we have to be very careful how we spend our money, so we have fixed fees for the service agreed with participating solicitors. You may be liable for any costs if you exceed this limit. We recommend you speak to your solicitor about your needs before using the service.

While most people who use our service do choose to leave a gift to help write an end to cancer, you are under no obligation to do so. We hope when you use the service, you will consider leaving a legacy gift to Cancer Research UK. Our Will Planner can help you plan your estate and save time.

Q. If I’ve already created a Will using the service, can I amend it for free?

Yes, that’s no problem. All you have to do is contact your nearest participating Free Will Service solicitor and let them know what changes you want to make.

Are you a solicitor or an executor?

If you’re a solicitor and are interested participating in our Free Will Service, or if you are already a member of the scheme and would like leaflets, forms or other materials, contact the Free WIll Service Team on 020 3469 8797 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or email FWSadmin@cancer.org.uk.

If you’re the executor of an estate that includes a legacy to Cancer Research UK, we can help you every step of the way. Give us a call on 0300 123 1862 or email us at legacydept@cancer.org.uk.

Who is leaving a gift in their Will?

"Sam was two years old when she was diagnosed with leukaemia. She was a tough little cookie throughout her chemo treatment, but had it not been for Cancer Research UK and other charities, she wouldn’t be here. So writing a gift into our Will is our way of saying thank you for what they’ve done, and hopefully what we give will help another family in some small way."

Catherine and Brian, grandparents of Sam, Leukaemia survivor

Use our Free Will Service over the phone

To have your Will written from the comfort of your own home, you can call our partner The Cooperative Legal Services on 0330 606 9627 to arrange a telephone appointment.

Phone lines are open 9am to 8pm Monday - Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

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Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666) and the Isle of Man (1103). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: Angel Building, 407 St John Street, London EC1V 4AD.